This conversation with Dr. Dawnmarie Risley-Childs stays with you. Not because it’s easy to hear, but because it’s real. Dawnmarie shares her story of growing up in severe abuse and how that shaped her path into psychiatry, and eventually into a much deeper kind of healing. What stands out isn’t just what she’s been through, it’s how she talks about responsibility, boundaries, and what it actually takes to move forward when your past feels overwhelming. There’s an honest look at things many w...
May 12
51 min
Some stories stay with you, not because they’re dramatic, but because they’re honest. In this conversation, Shelby sits down with Vivian Moyo, a trauma-informed life coach, to talk about what it really means to heal after deep loss. Vivian shares her experience of losing her mother at a young age, growing up without her father, and navigating layers of grief that followed her into adulthood. What stands out isn’t just the pain, but the patterns that formed around it. People pleasing. Overgivi...
May 6
43 min
What if sobriety is less about labels and more about how you live, think, and feel each day? In this episode, Shelby sits down with transformation coach Heather Simco to talk about a more honest and grounded approach to recovery. With over a decade of sobriety and more than 20 years in entrepreneurship, Heather shares how high-achieving women can move beyond burnout, alcohol, and self-sabotage by focusing on emotional sobriety, not just abstinence. They explore the patterns that often go un...
Apr 28
43 min
In this episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby sits down with Colette Baron-Reid for an honest conversation about what long-term sobriety really looks like in real life. With more than 40 years of sobriety, Colette shares her experience with addiction, recovery, and the deeper emotional work that followed. This conversation moves beyond quitting alcohol and focuses on what it takes to stay well over time. They talk about trauma, identity, and the ongoing commitment to growth that comes wit...
Apr 21
51 min
In this episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby sits down with entrepreneur, podcast host, and author Sarah Barnes Humphrey for a conversation about identity, resilience, and rebuilding life after everything falls apart. Sarah shares the story of what she calls the worst day of her life. Just days before her 37th birthday, her family’s logistics company suddenly closed, leaving her without the career path she had spent nearly two decades building. What followed was a period of grief, uncerta...
Apr 14
37 min
In this episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby sits down with recovery advocate and mindfulness teacher Lane Kennedy for an honest conversation about long-term sobriety, nervous system regulation, and what it really takes to build a stable life after alcohol. Lane shares her journey of 29 years in recovery and reflects on the unexpected lessons that come with staying sober across decades. From early recovery to parenting, global travel, career shifts, and the challenges of navigating stress...
Apr 7
49 min
In this episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby sits down with writer and journalist Carly Schwartz to talk about addiction, emotional sobriety, and the complicated path to recovery. Carly is a former editor in chief of the San Francisco Examiner and a founding editor of HuffPost San Francisco. Her upcoming memoir, I’ll Try Anything Twice: Misadventures of a Self-Medicated Life, shares the honest and often surprising story of her journey through depression, drug use, and eventually sobriety....
Mar 31
49 min
In this solo episode of Confident Sober Women, Shelby John returns after a period of personal and professional growth to share what’s evolving in her life, her work, and the direction of the podcast. Shelby opens up about a season of transition—navigating motherhood, major life changes, and expanding her therapy practice—while reflecting on how these experiences deepen her understanding of healing. She shares why sobriety, while powerful, is only the starting point for many women. This episod...
Mar 24
10 min
In this episode of the Confident Sober Women podcast, Shelby John sits down with Beth McDonough, a former television crime reporter with more than 30 years of experience covering major news stories across the United States. Beth shares her powerful and deeply personal recovery story. She speaks openly about addiction, trauma, shame, incarceration, and the long process of rebuilding her life after losing her career and public reputation. This conversation focuses heavily on personal responsibi...
Mar 17
59 min
In this eye-opening episode of The Confident Sober Women podcast, host Shelby John sits down with award-winning investigative journalist Shoshana Walter, author of Rehab: An American Scandal. Together, they uncover the shocking realities of America’s addiction treatment industry—where compassion and healing sometimes collide with corruption, exploitation, and profit. Shoshana shares the powerful stories behind her groundbreaking reporting for The Marshall Project and Reveal, which exposed how...
Nov 11, 2025
52 min
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